Artistic inroads from Indonesia

• Source: Global Times
• [10:19 July 27 2010]
• Comments

Zsa Zsa Zsu by Tromarama. (Below) Detail from Zsa Zsa Zsu. Photos: Nick Muzyczka

By Nick Muzyczka

Shanghai's Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA), pleasantly situated in the People's Park, is currently home to an expansive collection of artworks by Indonesian artists.

The sweeping two-tier gallery is filled with an impressive number of pieces, which aims to "mark the tension between 'Globality' and 'Multeity.'"

These somewhat uncommon concepts are supposed to explore the issue of cultural identity in a changing world.

In particular, Contemporaneity: Contemporary Art in Indonesia is trying to offer a view of the country's art outside of the context of the West.

It is built on the premise that one of the results of decolonization is that "differences between cultures and countries are intense; globalization actually strengthens heterogeneity and promotes multeity," according to the curatorial statement.

While it is unclear that the exhibition's pieces strictly conform to this thematic model, there is a genuine richness to the display, with many refreshing ideas for visitors to engage with.

One of the most obscure exhibits is entitled Cortege of the Third Realm, and features 24 life-size "figures" which appear to be set up in a marching band formation, complete with bass drums, cymbals and xylophones.

As well as the instruments, the only other parts of the figures are actually the boots and various types of headwear. Vacant midriffs are sometimes the location for screens playing a diverse range of video clips.

To make things more surreal, the instruments are motorized and occasionally the bass drum and the snare smash together. As the drums sound, with perfectly timing, the video screens distort and jump at whatever point they are in their film clip. It is an extremely dislocating work, focusing on the notion of identity, both prescribed and projected.

Tromarama, an artist unit based in Bandung, contributes two laboriously constructed pieces made from buttons. Zsa Zsa Zsu is the name given to both a vivid, pop-art design depicting various musicians and an animated film.

The film's frames are constructed in the same manner as the wall-mounted piece and show a constantly changing flow of buttons.

The piece, which used around 10 kilograms of buttons in its making, is intended as a music video for a band.